Amid Clutter of Construction, Wrigley Field Preps for Opener

As the Cubs head home to Chicago from their season-opening trip out west that saw them looking like they could easily outscore the Bears, crews at Wrigley Field were busy power-washing, sweeping, and dusting to get ready for Monday’s home opener.

The 2015 season saw the Cubs open in a ballpark far behind schedule. The bleachers weren’t completely ready for fans’ backsides until June, and let’s not even talk about the restroom debacle that was the first series at The Friendly Confines last April.

The team is in the midst of Project 1060, which in addition to renovating the old ballpark, also includes the construction of an office building and plaza, a new hotel, and a broadcast center just beyond left field.

What will soon be the Cubs’ new offices.

The statue of Ernie Banks at the corner of Clark and Addison.

Ornamental ironwork.

Sign of the times? The “Friendly Confines” will have metal detectors now.

Make no mistake, Wrigley Field is still an active construction zone.

Construction along the left-field line.

The office building takes shape along Clark Street.

Office building, corner of Clark and Waveland.

Behind the outfield wall, along Waveland Avenue.

The new Broadcast Center, out beyond left field, near the firehouse.

The Caretaker’s House is back where it belongs…

…after it was moved to a parking lot during renovations.

NO MORE SERVED. The McDonald’s across the street is gone, to make room for the hotel project.

Cleaning seats.

Still can’t believe they did this to Wrigley Field.

“All right, let me hear ya! Good and loud! a-one, a-two, a-three…”

Location: 1060 West Addison Street, Wrigleyville

Author: Daniel Schell

Daniel Schell is a West Loop social media addict who lives for Cubs baseball, good pizza, and big cities. If you bump into him on the street, it's likely because he's taking photos instead of watching where he's going, and he apologizes.